Assisted living monitor and monitoring system

Abstract

An assisted living monitor comprising a pulse density modulation microphone to read noise levels and a processing unit operable to process the noise levels of the pulse density modulation microphone so as to detect changes in noise levels indicative of an anomalous event or activity, wherein the pulse density modulation microphone reads peak to peak noise levels to detect changes in noise levels indicative of an anomalous event or activity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assisted living monitor comprising a pulse density modulation microphone to read noise levels and a processing unit operable to process the noise levels of the pulse density modulation microphone so as to detect changes in noise levels indicative of an anomalous event or activity. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . An assisted living monitor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit compares the noise level to the level at a historical time to determine the anomalous event or activity. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . An assisted living monitor as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one thermographic sensor, 3D Time-of-Flight sensor, LiDAR sensor and/or structured light sensor. 
     
     
         9 . An assisted living monitor as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one thermographic sensor 3D Time-of-Flight sensor, LiDAR sensor and/or structured light sensor comprises at least one sensing element operable to output at least one signal corresponding to characteristic data of at least one segment within a field of view of the thermographic sensor, 3D Time-of-Flight sensor, LiDAR sensor and/or structured light sensor, the processing unit configured to generate an output value matrix from the output signals of the at least one sensing element such that when an anomalous event or activity is identified, the output value matrix is used to validate at least one parameter of a living being relative to the assisted living monitor. 
     
     
         10 . An assisted living monitor as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one thermographic sensor has a resolution dependent on the number of sensing elements provided. 
     
     
         11 . An assisted living monitor as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one thermographic sensor, 3D Time-of-Flight sensor, LiDAR sensor and/or structured light sensor provides an indication of a resident location and/or body position based on the respective characteristic data from the at least one segment within a field of view of the thermographic sensor, 3D Time-of-Flight sensor, LiDAR sensor and/or structured light sensor within the field of view of the thermographic sensor 3D Time-of-Flight sensor, LiDAR sensor and/or structured light sensor. 
     
     
         12 . An assisted living monitor as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein information from the at least one thermographic sensor, 3D Time-of-Flight sensor, LiDAR sensor and/or structured light sensor is used to electronically produce a visual image based on the output signals corresponding to the characteristic data from the at least one segment. 
     
     
         13 . An assisted living monitor as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein information from the pulse density modulation microphone is used to identify the occurrence of anomalous events based on changes to the noise level, and data from the at least one thermographic sensor, 3D Time-of-Flight sensor, LiDAR sensor and/or structured light sensor is then used to detect whether a resident is present, and when a resident is present, then a location and/or body position of the resident. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An assisted living monitor as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one movement sensor to detect physical movement without constant observation. 
     
     
         16 . An assisted living monitor or system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein information from the at least one movement sensor is used in combination with the peak to peak noise levels from the pulse density microphone to more accurately characterise an anomalous activity or event relating to a resident as an actionable anomalous event or activity, or an anomalous event or activity that does not require action. 
     
     
         17 . An assisted living monitor or system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the pulse density modulation microphone is provided in a housing with the at least one movement sensor. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An assisted living monitor system comprising an assisted living monitor including a pulse density modulation microphone in each of at least a living area, bedroom and bathroom of a residential area, each assisted living monitor associated with at least one communication pathway, a processing unit operable to process the noise levels of the pulse density modulation microphone so as to detect changes in noise levels indicative of an anomalous event or activity and at least one monitoring system display located externally of the residential area with access to each of the assisted living monitors for the residential area. 
     
     
         20 . An assisted living monitor system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the assisted living monitors further comprises at least one thermographic sensor, 3D Time-of-Flight sensor, LiDAR sensor and/or structured light sensor. 
     
     
         21 . An assisted living monitor system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the assisted living monitors further comprises at least one movement sensor. 
     
     
         22 . An assisted living monitor system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein information from the at least one thermographic sensor, 3D Time-of-Flight sensor, LiDAR sensor and/or structured light sensor and/or the at least one movement sensor is used in combination with the noise levels from the pulse density microphone to more accurately characterise an anomalous activity or event relating to a resident as an actionable anomalous event or activity, or an anomalous event or activity that does not require action. 
     
     
         23 . An assisted living monitor system as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising at least one pressure pad to be located on a chair or a bed to detect when a resident is seated on the chair or lying on the bed. 
     
     
         24 . An assisted living monitor system as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising at least one emergency call button provided in a fixed or portable configuration. 
     
     
         25 . An assisted living monitor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pulse density modulation microphone reads peak to peak noise levels to detect changes in noise levels indicative of an anomalous event or activity. 
     
     
         26 . An assisted living monitor system comprising an assisted living monitor including a pulse density modulation microphone to read peak to peak noise levels and a processing unit operable to process the peak to peak noise levels of the pulse density modulation microphone so as to detect changes in noise levels indicative of an anomalous event or activity.